Wheatland pastor sentenced for statutory rape

WHEATLAND — A Wheatland pastor instructed his 15-year-old statutory rape victim to drug her mother, authorities said, so he could continue his illicit relationship undetected.

Brian Clay Gray, 51, also "coached" the girl on stuffing her bed to appear she was still sleeping in it when she snuck out, encouraged her to estrange herself from her father and obtained a concealed firearms permit to protect himself if the girl's father ever discovered the relationship, according to Gray's sentencing report.

The now former pastor of the Anchor Baptist Church also purchased several cellphones so they could communicate secretly, the report says.

For more than a year, Gray took the girl to a Sacramento motel and insisted on rooms close to the staircase so he could easily sneak the girl into his room, the report says.

"The level of planning and sophistication on his part is staggering," a Yuba County probation officer noted.

Yuba County Judge Julia L. Scrogin sentenced Gray on Monday to eight years and four months in state prison, according to court records.

It was the maximum sentence available, Deputy Yuba County District Attorney Shiloh Sorbello said on Tuesday.

"I'm glad he received the maximum. I think it was the right thing," Sorbello said.

Gray also waived his right to appeal the sentence.

Under state law, Gray's crimes are not "strike" convictions, meaning he could be out of prison is as little as four years and two months, prosecutors acknowledged.

Gray must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, Sorbello said.

The sentencing report says Gray is a "low risk" to commit another sex crime when he is released.

In the report, Gray acknowledged wrongdoing but said he believes his issues with pornography and lust "blinded" him.

Gray is 35 years older than the girl and has known her since she was at least 5 years old, the report says.

Gray admitted sleeping with the girl first in his church office in January 2012 and later at a summer camp, several times in a field near her home in Sutter County and at least once or twice a month at the motel in Sacramento until last April, investigators said.

"He would preach on Sundays and Wednesdays," one family member wrote a letter to the court, "telling sinners to repent and then plan youth activities ... Then he would act out his sick fantasies on the victim."

Probation officers said the victim is struggling with the abuse. She told authorities she wanted Pastor Brian Gray to receive the longest prison term possible.

"I don't want him to hurt anyone else," the girl says in the report.

The abuse came to light in May after several parishioners confronted Gray about the relationship and one of Gray's relatives reported the abuse to the Yuba County Sheriff's Department.